Apple iPhone could hold 'dormant cyber pathogen,' says San Beardino DA - CNET

The iPhone 5C at the center of the tussle between Apple and the FBI could pose a significant danger to a local computer network.

That's the argument from the district attoey for Califoia's San Beardino County, where two terrorists went on a shooting spree in December that left 14 people dead and 20 wounded.

The iPhone in question was a loaner that belongs to the county's Department of Public Health, where one of the shooters worked. County District Attoey Michael Ramos argues that Apple should help the FBI unlock the phone because the device may hold a trigger for a "dormant cyber pathogen" that endangers the county's infrastructure, according to a court filing published by Ars Technica.

His speculation is the latest in a string of arguments offered by govement agencies seeking access to the phone. In particular, the FBI wants Apple to create software that will crack the locked phone and to help it in the investigation. Apple, however, argues the creation of a so-called security "backdoor" could leave all iPhones vulnerable and weaken its encryption capabilities.

The filing from Thursday sheds light on what exactly the authorities hope to find on the iPhone and why they're going to such lengths to crack the device. Faced with opposition from across the tech industry and privacy advocates, the FBI hasn't offered specific justification for why Apple should break what is effectively seen as a code of ethics among the world's tech giants. The FBI argues that an unbreakable encrypted phone creates a safe haven for criminals.